DANCING QUEENS.

Byline: MARIE TURBILL ; SARAH DALE

If Teesside's explosion of costume and dance has got your little ones' toes tapping, then get them in the groove with some dancing essentials. MARIE TURBILL hotfoots it to the shops.

SHARING the stage with dance troops from across the globe is no mean feat for these young dancers. Children from Billingham's own BILLINDA dance group practise all year round to warrant their place at the town's annual Folklore Festival. And this year is no different. BILLINDA wowed crowds as they performed in the opening celebrations at the weekend, and they will be the ones drawing the ceremony to a close on Saturday. "They are just hyper with excitement at the moment," says Maureen Bowler who runs the group with former professional ice skater, Olga Maloney.

The children, whose ages range from eight to 15, perform folklore dancing, taking inspiration from Billingham International Folklore Festival's visiting countries past and present. The kids love it, but Maureen says: "Dancing is one of the best ways of exercising there is. It is a good way of teaching about healthy lifestyles and the kids don't realise they are being taught a lesson." Working closely with visiting dancers brings with it a whole host of other lessons in culture and languages, too.This week Billinda are performing daily at Uncle BIFF's children's club and will dance at the festival's closing ceremony on Saturday.

LITTLE girls will dance with joy in their very own tutu.

* This Juliett Paris Full Tutu, left, costs pounds 22.50 from www.movedancewear.co.uk and comes in a choice of pink, black, white and lilac. *

For ballerina style tie hair back into a bun. These Trevor Sorbie large hair pins, right, cost pounds 2.50 from Boots.

* Complete the look with these Daisy child's ballet shoes, below left, pounds 10, from www.arielledancewear.co.uk from where you can also become a show stopper in this Stars on Broadway costume, right, pounds 57.70.

* Young ballroom beauties will adore these silver Millie ballroom shoes, below right, pounds 26, also from Arielle Dancewear. * Jazz up those dancing feet with some tap shoes, below left. These sparkly pink, Capezio children's tap shoes, give off a bubble gum aroma when you dance, pounds 10.95 from www.movedancewear.co.uk * Dazzle on stage with the 2true range of makeup from Superdrug, below. Handy mini lip glosses at pounds 1.95 each or buy three for pounds 5; sparkly crystal couture for the face, pounds 1.95.

* Little dancing girls will love carrying their kit in this pink princess backpack, below right, pounds 5, from Matalan. * Pack away those dancing shoes in this black and pink heart gym bag, below left, pounds 1.50, also from Matalan.